309
technologies including methods for community profiling via the sequencing of phylogenetic marker genes (e.g. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing); whole
community genome (metagenomics) or meta-mRNA sequencing (metatranscriptomics) for analysis of gene expression via Roche 454, Illumina or more recently
PacBio (Caporaso et al. 2012; Merriman and Rothberg 2012; Knief 2014); and
metaproteomics, it is now possible to address these and more questions related to
macroalgal- microbial interactions. The results obtained from larger-scale NGS
projects will allow for understating complexity of biological function of macroalgal
microbiomes. Understanding complexity of this interaction will help to increase the
gross productivity of economical important macroalgae and mitigating several diseases via microbiome modulation as similarly to what approaches have been applied
on the higher plant.
15.4 Conclusion
Bacterial communities associated with the diverse macroalgae are essential for normal life cycle of the host, in which they determine the morphogenesis, growth and
reproduction in different ways. There are growing evidences for interkingdom
chemical communication between macroalgae and their associated bacteria where
they modulate several phenomena of each other. Advances in NGS technologies
will improve our understanding of their composition and functions. So far, metagenomic and metatranscriptomics techniques have successfully employed to analyse
the microbiomes of human, plants, insects, animals and marine life (sponges and
macroalgae) revealing details of their biology and evolution of not known prior to
these technological developments. The application of these sensitive NGS techniques to the macroalgal holobiont will invariably provide much needed information regarding the role of microbial associations for macroalgal health and function.
Once identified, specific core members or functional microbial groups that benefit
host health may then be used, for example, as probiotics in order to enhance macroalgal production in aquaculture or for developing an early warning system for
macroalgal diseases.
References
Adesemoye AO, Torbert HA, Kloepper JW (2009) Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria allow
reduced application rates of chemical fertilizers. Microb Ecol 58(4):921–929. doi:10.1007/
s00248-009-9531-y
Ainsworth DT, Krause L, Bridge T, Torda G, Raina JB, Zakrzewski M et al (2015) The coral core
microbiome identifies rare bacterial taxa as ubiquitous endosymbionts. ISME J 9(10):2261–
2274. doi:10.1038/ismej.2015.39
Atarashi K, Tanoue T, Shima T, Imaoka A, Kuwahara T, Momose Y et al (2011) Induction of
colonic regulatory T cells by indigenous Clostridium species. Science 331(6015):337–341.
doi:10.1126/science.1198469
15 Exploring the Complexity of Macroalgal-Bacterial Interactions…
technologies including methods for community profiling via the sequencing of phylogenetic marker genes (e.g. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing); whole
community genome (metagenomics) or meta-mRNA sequencing (metatranscriptomics) for analysis of gene expression via Roche 454, Illumina or more recently
PacBio (Caporaso et al. 2012; Merriman and Rothberg 2012; Knief 2014); and
metaproteomics, it is now possible to address these and more questions related to
macroalgal- microbial interactions. The results obtained from larger-scale NGS
projects will allow for understating complexity of biological function of macroalgal
microbiomes. Understanding complexity of this interaction will help to increase the
gross productivity of economical important macroalgae and mitigating several diseases via microbiome modulation as similarly to what approaches have been applied
on the higher plant.
15.4 Conclusion
Bacterial communities associated with the diverse macroalgae are essential for normal life cycle of the host, in which they determine the morphogenesis, growth and
reproduction in different ways. There are growing evidences for interkingdom
chemical communication between macroalgae and their associated bacteria where
they modulate several phenomena of each other. Advances in NGS technologies
will improve our understanding of their composition and functions. So far, metagenomic and metatranscriptomics techniques have successfully employed to analyse
the microbiomes of human, plants, insects, animals and marine life (sponges and
macroalgae) revealing details of their biology and evolution of not known prior to
these technological developments. The application of these sensitive NGS techniques to the macroalgal holobiont will invariably provide much needed information regarding the role of microbial associations for macroalgal health and function.
Once identified, specific core members or functional microbial groups that benefit
host health may then be used, for example, as probiotics in order to enhance macroalgal production in aquaculture or for developing an early warning system for
macroalgal diseases.
References
Adesemoye AO, Torbert HA, Kloepper JW (2009) Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria allow
reduced application rates of chemical fertilizers. Microb Ecol 58(4):921–929. doi:10.1007/
s00248-009-9531-y
Ainsworth DT, Krause L, Bridge T, Torda G, Raina JB, Zakrzewski M et al (2015) The coral core
microbiome identifies rare bacterial taxa as ubiquitous endosymbionts. ISME J 9(10):2261–
2274. doi:10.1038/ismej.2015.39
Atarashi K, Tanoue T, Shima T, Imaoka A, Kuwahara T, Momose Y et al (2011) Induction of
colonic regulatory T cells by indigenous Clostridium species. Science 331(6015):337–341.
doi:10.1126/science.1198469
15 Exploring the Complexity of Macroalgal-Bacterial Interactions…